“What? I’ve got grounds to worry when you take too long doing things.” He crossed his arms. Toby was surprisingly absent from the exchange. I guess he took the “Employees Only” sign seriously.
“If you’ll recall, the last time that happened, it was your fault.” I’m not one to lay blame on people, but come on, asking a girl to take out the trash alone, at night, when you know shifters are watching her—not the smartest move.
“Which is why I’m being more careful now.”
“Yet you don’t care that I’m going out with Toby tonight?” Going out? Maybe that wasn’t the best choice of words.
“Toby’s better than some other choices.”
“Right.” I pushed past him, pleasantly surprised when his huge figure easily moved with my shove. I guess super strength was another possible side effect. I didn’t mind that one.
Toby was still standing in the same place when I came back out, just a few feet from the front door. “Ready?”
I nodded. “Yeah.” I followed him out with no idea of where we were going. There were really only two places that could work. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but my place or yours?”
He got a twinkle in his eyes. “What way would I take that, Casey?”
I shut my eyes tight. I wasn’t supposed to get that shiver when he said my name. Not after what Nelly told me. Not after Jared. Not after finding out the truth. But I did. I reluctantly opened my eyes again.
“Let’s go with mine. It’s more spacious.” His eyes studied me, waiting for my reaction. We had memories at his place. Recent memories I’d been trying to forget.
“All right.” I tore my eyes from his face. He’d gotten a far off look, and I knew he was thinking about the first kiss. The one that felt more like perfection than any other kiss before or since. I shook myself.
In silence, we walked toward his apartment together. I’m pretty sure neither of us knew what to say. So much had happened in such a short period of time. In some ways, I didn’t even know Toby, but in others, I knew him better than almost anyone else. Before long, we turned the corner to his street and reached his modern apartment building.
The door was quickly pulled open by what looked like a middle aged doorman. I knew better. “Hey, Cody.” I smiled, knowing that underneath the disguise was a young Pteron.
“Hey, Casey. Nice to see you back again.” I knew what his words implied. He assumed I was back with Toby. On the surface, it looked that way, and he had every reason to want that. For all he knew, I was the human his boss wanted as his mate. I wondered how he’d feel when he found out I was a Pteron too. My gut told me we’d end up as friends.
Toby nodded in greeting, his body stiffening slightly. I had no idea what that was about, but I followed him over to the elevator.
“It feels like it’s been months since I’ve been here.” Greeting Cody had broken my silence, and I decided to continue talking. Hopefully it would make things less awkward.
“Yeah, I know how you feel.” He stepped out of the elevator on the top floor and unlocked his door. I walked in before he locked the door behind us. The sound of the lock turning was loud. I’d already added super hearing to my list of new abilities. The sound also signified I was alone with Toby. I shouldn’t have liked that thought, but my body’s response was out of my control.
“Can I get you anything to drink?”
“Oh. No, that’s okay.” I wasn’t sure if I could handle a drink—alcoholic or otherwise—with the topic I wanted to broach. I walked across the room, careful to step over the pile of books on the floor. Toby’s place was usually neater.
“Are you all right?” His voice revealed a level of worry and nerves I hadn’t noticed before.
“Yeah. I’m okay.”
“Since when can you see in the dark?” His voice came from right behind me.
“What do you mean?” I spun around. His face was inches from mine.
“Are you really going to pretend you can’t see perfectly?” His eyes twinkled again.
“I’m not going to deny it. It’s kind of a new thing.” I decided to lay it all out there. Putting off our conversation would only make it more difficult.
“New as in…”
“Last night.”
He reached a hand out and touched my arm. I looked up at him. His eyes were kind, and it gave me the confidence I needed.
“Develop any other skills you want to tell me about?”
“I’m stronger,” I whispered. “And I can fly.”
“So it’s true.” His eyes widened and he straightened his shoulders.
“You knew?” I stared into his eyes, searching for the freak out that had to be there. I didn’t find it. He still looked at me with compassion and interest. “How long have you known?”
“I found out last night as well. I guess it was a popular night for revelations.” He smiled. It wasn’t a forced smile. It was the natural one that always melted my heart.
“I guess so.” I looked out the window. The city view brought me back to the fear I felt when I thought I was going to fall to my death.
“Your wings are black.” He said it as a statement and not a question.
“Yeah.” The color of a Pteron’s wings signified the bird they’re tied to. I’d never particularly liked crows, but they did have a certain spooky, ‘don’t mess with me’, feel to them I found attractive.
“Did you know he was your dad?” Toby watched me carefully.
“Robert Laurent? No. Of course not.”
“I didn’t think so.” He stepped away, giving me some more breathing room.
“I need help.” I let the words slip out. I didn’t feel like beating around the bush.
“I’d like to help you. I know what it’s like to suddenly find out you’re not human.”
“Wait. You weren’t raised by Pterons? What about your grandfather?”
“I didn’t find out what I was until I was a teenager. My grandfather showed up with my cousins. They nearly beat me to death before I transformed.” His face didn’t betray any emotion, but the experience must have been terrifying.
I decided to keep things emotionless too. “Murphy pushed me off the Empire State Building,” I said like we were discussing the weather.
Toby’s eyes bugged out. “He what? Are you okay?”